Hoi An is always on the list of favorite destinations on the Vietnam tourist map. This place has beautiful scenery and favorable weather all year round and has friendly, open-minded, and intelligent people. It is the locals who have made Hoi An an attractive destination, with many exciting activities and experiences that create great excitement to try.
Among the many fun activities available at this location, Vietnamdrive chooses to introduce to you the 7 most unique and outstanding experiences.
1. Shopping and tailoring
Many tourists seem interested and surprised by the unique trading rhythm of the Hoi An people. In particular, in the Old Quarter, many souvenirs, clothes, handbags, accessories, scarves, and even snacks and fruits are sold everywhere.
However, most visitors will not encounter any solicitation from sellers; they always greet you warmly when you visit their store. But if you still haven’t found the item you like, they will happily see you next time. This friendly attitude makes shopping in Hoi An City extremely light and enjoyable.
In addition to shopping for available gifts, Hoi An is also a professional direct garment “factory” for tourists. Your job is to choose a suitable store, then the staff here will advise on designs and fabric quality, as well as take your specific measurements. They will tailor an outfit for you as expected.
The time to complete an outfit is usually fast, maybe 4 hours to 2 days. Before proceeding to pay and receive the goods, you can try on the clothes and ask for adjustments if you feel it does not really fit your body.
In particular, the amount of money in Hoi An that you have to pay to own your nice tailor-made outfit is always considered not high. Therefore, don’t hesitate to step into a tailor shop, and you can enjoy this exciting experience right away.
2. Visit the Tra Que vegetable village and become a farmer
Tra Que Vegetable Village is an indispensable part of the unforgettable beauty of Hoi An City. The highlight of this village comes from the farming methods that the indigenous people use.
Almost 100% of the vegetable fields here are grown organically. Therefore, the vegetable has a specific aroma, crispy taste, and natural sweetness. Therefore, vegetables grown in Tra Que are very popular with people in Hoi An and Da Nang. It contributes to making many famous delicious dishes, such as banh mi, Quang noodles, and Cao Lau.
Visiting this vegetable village, you also have the opportunity to participate in practicing farming. Wearing the typical brown Ba Ba shirt, joining the locals in throwing buckets of water to the garden to water vegetables, or harvesting finished products while breathing in the fresh and fragrant air – that will be an unforgettable experience.
Tra Que people are also friendly and approachable, so they can make you feel comfortable like you are in your garden. Take time for this special activity, only available in Hoi An City.
3. Shake basket boats at Cam Thanh Coconut Forest
With a total area of nearly 100 hectares, the Cam Thanh coconut forest has become a great place for ecotourism in Hoi An. Here, you can board a basket boat – a distinctive boat type for seafarers, to visit the coconut forest scene. And you will be surprised by what is happening in this flooded forest.
Not only is the natural scenery beautiful, but the people here are also incredibly warm and welcoming. They have the nature of coastal people, so they are open-minded, spontaneous, and gentle. Their sincerity and hospitality will help you quickly immerse yourself in the most innocent and fun emotions.
These gentle people will demonstrate to you their talent to control basketboats with the shaking-boat activity. The spinning baskets seem to fly and dance on the water’s surface, making viewers unable to help but applaud. You can also get on the boat to feel the swaying feeling when the basket rotates and shakes.
Currently, the Cam Thanh coconut forest is quite crowded in the afternoon every day, from about 13:00 to 16:30. Therefore, to have a more private and quiet space, come here in the morning. On the contrary, the afternoon will be suitable if you want to enjoy the bustle and excitement.
4. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town
The center of making the famous tourist destination of Hoi An lies in the Old Town. This neighborhood has an area of about 2 km2 and was built in the 16th century by Chinese merchants and indigenous people.
After nearly five centuries, this neighborhood still retains its ancient architectural foundations. It clearly and vividly reflects the image of an international trading port in Southeast Asia, well-known during the 16th and 17th centuries. Hoi An Ancient Town has also become home to a unique blend of major cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, French, and Vietnamese.
Coming here, you can walk in the Old Quarter, visit some main tourist attractions such as the Ancient House, Covered Bridge, and Assembly Hall, and watch the trading activities of indigenous people. Or stop by a restaurant to sip a cup of coffee and watch the flow of people passing by on the small street.
Tips: If you want fewer tourists, visit the Old Town in the early morning until before 10 am. Because, after this period, the number of visitors here is quite large. Especially in the late afternoon, from 4 pm to 8 pm, the number of tourists in Hoi An is bustling and crowded.
5. Enjoy the local foods of Hoi An
The cultural mix created by the footprint of a busy international port also helps Hoi An have a rich cuisine. Here, there are many delicious dishes with unique characteristics that you do not want to miss the opportunity to taste.
Typical local foods in Hoi An become highlights, such as Cao Lau, Quang Noodles, White Rose Dumplings, Hoi An Chicken Rice, grilled sweet potato cake, and Banh Mi.
You will easily find many restaurants specializing in these dishes in the Old Quarter, Hoi An Market, or on many streets throughout the city.
Although Hoi An people pay great attention to professionalism in tourism, Vietnamdrive’s team still recommends that you take care of food safety issues at any restaurant you want to visit. Choosing a restaurant that specializes in serving international guests is a better choice compared to a small eatery that caters to locals.
6. Take cooking lessons
It can be said that the Hoi An people’s sincere, honest, and open-minded nature is clearly expressed through the way they prepare dishes with distinctive local flavors. Therefore, taking a cooking class in Hoi An has become a fascinating experience.
You will participate in every step, starting from going to the market to choosing ingredients and learning how to bargain with local sellers. Prepare the ingredients, go directly to the kitchen to cook, and enjoy your results.
At each stage, the instructor brings you a lot of delightful values and relaxing laughter. You can see that they are both professional chefs and close, humorous friends.
There are many cooking classes in Hoi An at different time frames for you to choose from, including morning, afternoon, and evening. However, the morning is often the most interesting. It is because the morning is the most crowded in the market. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the bustling trading activities of local people. Vegetables, meat, and fish here are also fresh and delicious for a look. So please arrange a suitable time for yourself!
7. Explore Cam Kim Village by bicycle
The next engaging activity in Hoi An is to explore Cam Kim Village by bicycle. This peaceful village is on the other side of the Thu Bon River from Hoi An ancient town. The river boundary becomes far enough to go through many years, but Cam Kim still retains the pristine features of a peaceful Vietnamese village.
Almost in complete contrast to the bustle of Hoi An urban area, life here is very gentle and slow. Small roads weave through lush green gardens, rice fields, and corn fields with the fragrant scent of the countryside.
Interwoven between the gardens are small and warm houses that seem to contain the peaceful soul of the countryside. You also have the opportunity to visit some unique family temples here, giving you a better understanding of the ancestor-worshipping culture of the Vietnamese.
The best time for this activity is early morning or late afternoon. Rent a bicycle from Hoi An and leisurely cross the Thu Bon River on the Cam Kim Iron Bridge to reach the peaceful village. This experience will help you have a wonderful moment of relaxation. Immerse yourself in nature and the gentle Vietnamese countryside people.
The above joyful experiences in Hoi An that Vietnamdrive introduces may help you make meaningful choices for your trip. Indeed, you can hardly find experiences similar to the above activities in any locality on the Vietnam tourism map.
These activities not only contain existing material values, but are also rich in emotions, including pleasure, fun, and relaxation. You will have beautiful and joyful memories to remember after every experience you participate in.
Please tell our team when you need assistance or schedule a vacation in Hoi An, Vietnam!
